Union Grove coasted past Locust Grove 78-46 on the first day of the Fourth Annual Thanksgiving Tip-off Classic at Locust Grove on Saturday afternoon.

Kyle McRae scored 16 points and Ronald Slaughter added 12 as the Wolverines (2-0) defeated the Wildcats for the fourth time in five meetings.

“After the first couple of minutes we settled in, started playing better defense and rebounded the ball very well,” Union Grove coach Russ Atkins said. “I knew we could hurt them in transition if we got some stops and rebounded.”

After heading into halftime with a 42-29 lead, Union Grove essentially put the game away in the third quarter with a 23-5 scoring surge in the frame.

“We just built on it from the first quarter on,” Atkins said. “I think it was some of them making some bad passes but we do have some guys who are quick and anticipate pretty good so it was probably a little of both. Anytime you can get a steal and that leads you into your transition offense that is a good thing.”

The Wolverines had nine different players put the ball in the basket in the quarter.

“It’s just been a collective team effort,” Atkins said. “Even the guys off the bench coming in and contributing. Doing what they are capable of doing, buying into the system. Everybody playing hard and playing together.”

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